EP2516295A1 - Vanne de réglage à pression régulée comportant un piston à gaz - Google Patents

Vanne de réglage à pression régulée comportant un piston à gaz

Info

Publication number
EP2516295A1
EP2516295A1 EP10809214A EP10809214A EP2516295A1 EP 2516295 A1 EP2516295 A1 EP 2516295A1 EP 10809214 A EP10809214 A EP 10809214A EP 10809214 A EP10809214 A EP 10809214A EP 2516295 A1 EP2516295 A1 EP 2516295A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure
container
valve
product
piston
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP10809214A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2516295B1 (fr
Inventor
Daniel E. Davideit
Kevin G. Verville
Brian Mcdonald
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Summit Packaging Systems Inc
Original Assignee
Summit Packaging Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Summit Packaging Systems Inc filed Critical Summit Packaging Systems Inc
Publication of EP2516295A1 publication Critical patent/EP2516295A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2516295B1 publication Critical patent/EP2516295B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
    • B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pressure regulated flow valve including a gas piston which compensates for the decreasing internal pressure inside a pressurized product dispensing container to ensure sufficient product is ejected through the valve even as the pressure in the dispensing container falls.
  • the valve via the gas piston provides for an increase in the flow of the product being dispensed from the pressurized container through the pressure regulated flow valve so as to maintain a relatively consistent flow rate of product.
  • fluorocarbons or hydrocarbons are typically utilized as the propellant in a pressurized aerosol container because these compounds are generally soluble with the product to be dispensed. These compounds remain in such a soluble state whatever amount of the product is expelled from the can thereby maintaining essentially a constant pressure within the container. In this way a constant pressure is generally available to dispense the product when the valve is actuated by a user, no matter how depleted the product in the container has become.
  • due to the potential environmental harm which can be caused by the fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons to the environment there has been increasing pressure in the market to replace the fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons with more benign propellants.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a valve which has a primary flow path through the valve and has an internal movable member which is regulated by the internal pressure of the pressurized container as well as the internal pressure of a gas piston so that as the internal pressure of the pressurized container falls below a threshold value, the gas piston biases the movable member in a manner which controls the expansion of the product flow path so that a desired sustained volumetric flow rate of product can continue to be emitted from the pressurized container despite the loss of internal pressure in the container.
  • a further object of the present invention is to change the flow path characteristics of the pressure regulated flow valve once the internal pressure inside the pressurized container falls below a predetermined threshold pressure of between about 40 to 65 psi for example, the flow path characteristics of the regulated flow valve are automatically modified so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path is modified, and an increased volume of the product is then able to be dispensed via a larger flow path area.
  • Another object of the present invention is to utilize a relatively environmentally harmless compressed gas, such as compressed air, C02 or N2 as a propellant for dispensing the product contents, and thus eliminate the use of fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons and other harmful compounds as the propellant for the pressurized container.
  • a relatively environmentally harmless compressed gas such as compressed air, C02 or N2
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide a pressure regulated flow valve in which the associated manufacturing and assembly costs are minimized while still providing a reliable pressure regulated flow valve which can maintain a relatively consistent flow rate both at a high internal pressure and at low internal pressure.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure regulated flow valve in which the overall size and profile of the piston member, the internal pressure of the pressurized container and the pressure of the gas piston all interact with one another to dictate the threshold pressure at which the regulated flow valve transitions from high pressure condition to low pressure condition.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a variably sized orifice as a primary flow path between the valve housing and the movable member which can be variably sized by relative movement of the moveable member according to the relative pressure difference between the gas piston cylinder and the container.
  • the present invention also relates to a pressure regulated flow valve for dispensing product from a pressurized container, the pressure regulated flow valve comprising a valve housing having an upper chamber accommodating a valve stem and a lower chamber accommodating a gas piston cylinder comprising a movable piston, and a flow controller connected to the movable piston, a first pressure inside of the gas piston cylinder and a second pressure inside of the container, a passageway for dispensing variable amounts of product through the valve housing; and wherein the passageway has a variable sized opening defined by the flow controller according to a relative difference between the first and the second pressures.
  • the present invention also relates to a method of regulating a flow valve for dispensing product from a pressurized container, the method comprising the steps of defining a valve housing having an upper chamber accommodating a valve stem and a lower chamber accommodating a gas piston cylinder comprising, a movable piston, and a flow controller connected to the movable piston, providing a first pressure inside of the gas piston cylinder and a second pressure inside of the container, forming a passageway for dispensing variable amounts of product through the valve housing, and allowing the passageway to have a variable space created by the flow controller and determined by the second pressure inside of the container.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the regulated flow valve and gas piston, according to the present invention, shown in a high internal container pressure closed condition;
  • Fig. 2A is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the regulated flow valve and gas piston, according to the present invention, shown in an initial high internal container pressure closed condition;
  • Fig. 2B is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the valve of Fig. 2 in a low internal container pressure condition
  • Fig. 3A is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the regulated flow valve and gas piston, according to the present invention, shown in an initial high internal container pressure condition.
  • Fig. 3B is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the regulated flow valve and gas piston shown in a low internal container pressure condition.
  • the pressure regulated flow valve 102 generally comprises a cylindrical valve housing 104 which is crimped in a conventional manner to a mounting cup 106, and the mounting cup 106 is accordingly crimped in a conventional manner, to the container 108 or some other conventional pressurized container.
  • a cylindrical valve housing 104 which is crimped in a conventional manner to a mounting cup 106, and the mounting cup 106 is accordingly crimped in a conventional manner, to the container 108 or some other conventional pressurized container.
  • valve stem 103 is supported in the housing 104 and extends through an opening in the mounting cup 106 to provide the necessary mechanical trigger and product passageway 105, for example a tilt valve stem or vertically actuated valve stem, which permits a user to eject the pressurized product from the container 108.
  • the valve steml03 has a top and bottom portion between which the valve passageway 105 extends and through which the product passes from the container 108 so as to be finally ejected from the top portion of the valve stem 103.
  • a stem entry orifice 107 is generally formed in a radial relationship to the valve passage 105 in the sidewall of the valve stem 103. The orifice 107 communicates between an internal passage or cavity 110 of the valve 102 and the valve passage 105 to permit product flow into the valve passage 105 upon pressing or tilting of the valve stem 103.
  • a gasket 109 seals the orifice closed in an unactuated position as shown in Fig. 1, and in an actuated position (not shown), for example when the valve stem 103 is pressed downwards, the orifice 107 is moved away from this sealing position and comes into communication with the internal cavity 110 of the valve housing so that pressurized product in an internal cavity 110 is ejected through the valve stem 103 and to the outside environment.
  • the valve stem 103, mounting cup 106, the container 108 and the arrangements and functions of these elements are generally known and thus no further discussion is provided with respect to these noted elements individually.
  • the valve housing 104 defines the internal cavity 110 which in turn defines a flow path F for the outgoing pressurized product as it travels from the interior of the container 108 through the housing 104 to the valve stem 103.
  • the valve housing 104 is open at opposed upper and lower ends, with the upper end supporting the gasket 109 and stem 103 at one end thereof as described above, and as described in further detail below a pressurized product inlet at the other end including a gas piston cylinder.
  • the internal cavity 110 is substantially cylindrical in shape and generally comprises an upper chamber portion 120 and a lower chamber portion 118.
  • the lower chamber portion 118 includes the gas piston cylinder device 122 which essentially functions as a variable gateway in the valve 102 so as to ensure a consistent dispensing of product from the valve even as the internal pressure P of the container 108 drops, as will be described in detail below.
  • the lower chamber portion 118 in this first embodiment in Fig. 1 includes product flow path F leading from an inlet plate orifice 124 in the lower chamber portion 118 to the internal cavity 110.
  • the flow path F is separate from the gas piston chamber N and is generally smaller in diameter than the gas piston cylinder 126, although it is to be appreciated that these diameters may be equal or different diameters depending on manufacturing processes and other design considerations.
  • a piston mechanism 130 is provided to be inserted into the lower chamber portion 118 of the valve 102.
  • the piston mechanism 130 comprises a gas piston 132 and a control rod 134 which are respectively received within the gas piston cylinder 126 and the lower chamber portion 118. It is this piston mechanism 130 which directly regulates what is essentially the area of the plate orifice 124 leading to the main flow path F through which the pressurized product is passing to eventually be ejected from the container 108.
  • the piston 132 and control rod 134 are substantially parallel aligned and supported by a base section 136 so that the piston 132 enters and is moveably and sealably engaged within the gas piston cylinder 126.
  • the control rod 134 for its part, enters through the plate orifice 124 and is correspondingly slidably received within the main flow path F.
  • control rod 134 and the piston 132 are immovably connected and thus, due to the relative fixed connection of the piston 132 and control rod 134 by the base 136, as the piston 132 is motivated by the relative balance between the can pressure P and the internal pressure N of the cylinder 126, the control rod 134 is respectively moved axially in relation to the main flow path F and the plate orifice 124.
  • the control rod 134 is provided with a taper 138 along its axial length extending from a larger diameter attached to the base 136 to a smaller diameter end spaced therefrom and located within the flow path F. It is to be appreciated that this taper along the length of the control rod 134 could be consistent so that the change of area of the plate orifice 124 is essentially linear relative to the length of the control rod 134. Alternatively the taper could be variable, for example concave or convex along the length of the control rod 134, so that the change of area of the plate orifice 124 relative to the control rod 134 was non- linear
  • the plate orifice 124 is provided with a certain diameter in relation to the control rod 134.
  • the plate orifice 124 is provided with a slightly larger diameter than the largest diameter of the control rod 134 so that there is always a minimal area or space between the outer diameter of the control rod 134 and the inner surface of the flow path F. Pressurized product is thus permitted to flow through this area or space defined by the plate orifice 124 and the immediately adjacent axial section of the control rod 134.
  • the taper of the control rod 134 determines the flow path cross-sectional area depending on where the tapered control rod 134 is axially aligned with respect to the plate orifice 124 and in effect creates a variable size opening into the flow path F.
  • the taper on the control rod 134 may be a linear taper, or in the alternative it may also be a convex or concave taper as shown by way of example in figures 2 A and 2B, or any other geometrical taper may be used which is determined to create a substantially constant product volume flow in conjunction with the pressure transition occurring in the container 108.
  • the piston 132 is forced out of the cylinder 126 due to pressure balancing, discussed in further detail below, consequently the control rod 134 is pulled from the plate orifice 124, the narrowing taper 138 of the control rod 134 allows more pressurized product through the plate orifice 124 and into the flow path.
  • the flow control rod 234 is linearly attached to the movable piston 232 and axially aligned therewith.
  • This embodiment shown in Fig. 2 has the flow control rod 234 extending through a plate orifice 224 provided at the bottom of the housing, which is also formed axially aligned with the piston 232, cylinder 226 and the control rod 234.
  • the pressure inside of the container P relative to the pressure N in the cylinder 226 is still the determining force for movement of the control rod 234 and hence the size of the flow path F.
  • the flow control device is no longer a rod or needle, but is instead a cylindrical cap 322 directly attached to the movable piston 332 as seen in Figs. 3A-B.
  • the cap 322 is formed by a base 336 extending outward to a larger diameter than the piston 332 and a cylinder wall 338 depending therefrom having a larger diameter than, and extending circumferentially around the piston 332.
  • the cylinder wall 338 has a free edge 328 which abuts with a shoulder 330 formed in the inner wall of the housing 304.
  • a space between the free edge 328 of the cylinder wall 338 and the shoulder 330 defines the inlet orifice 324 to the valve whereby the product to be dispensed flows into according to the container pressure P.
  • a portion of the cylinder wall 338 contacts an inner flange 334 of the cap 322 so that a minimal space is maintained even at full can pressure between the free edge 328 of the cylinder wall 338 and the shoulder 330 to permit product to enter into the valve.
  • FIG. 3 A shows this embodiment with the piston 332 in the initial position with high initial pressure Pi providing only a small, or the most restrictive area through the orifice 324 for the product to flow. After a certain amount of product is expelled out of the valve passage 305 through use, the pressure in the container P accordingly decreases.
  • the cylindrical wall 438 of the cap 422 directly attached to the movable piston 432 is narrowed and extends along the housing 404 as seen in Fig.4.
  • a space between the free edge 428 of the cylinder wall 438 and the housing 404 and shoulder 430 defines the inlet orifice 424 to the valve whereby the product to be dispensed flows into according to the container pressure P.
  • the extension of the cylindrical wall 438 increases the volume of flow path F.
  • a portion of the cylinder wall 438 contacts an inner flange 434 of the cap 422 so that a minimal space is maintained even at full can pressure between the free edge 428 of the cylinder wall 438 and the shoulder 430 to permit product to enter into the valve.
  • Fig. 4 shows this embodiment with the piston 432 and cylindrical cap 422 in the substantially open position providing a larger or less restrictive path for the product to flow through the orifice 424.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une vanne de réglage à pression régulée (102) qui compense, à l'aide d'un gaz comprimé sensiblement insoluble, la pression interne décroissante à l'intérieur d'un contenant de distribution (108) renfermant un produit sous pression. Lorsque la pression interne à l'intérieur du contenant de distribution (108) de produit sous pression diminue en dessous d'une certaine pression seuil, la vanne à pression régulée (102) augmente le débit du produit qui est en train d'être distribué à partir du contenant sous pression (108) par l'intermédiaire de la vanne de réglage à pression régulée (102).
EP10809214.9A 2009-12-23 2010-12-22 Vanne de réglage à pression régulée comportant un piston à gaz Active EP2516295B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US28950509P 2009-12-23 2009-12-23
PCT/US2010/061873 WO2011079219A1 (fr) 2009-12-23 2010-12-22 Vanne de réglage à pression régulée comportant un piston à gaz

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2516295A1 true EP2516295A1 (fr) 2012-10-31
EP2516295B1 EP2516295B1 (fr) 2016-11-02

Family

ID=43927695

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10809214.9A Active EP2516295B1 (fr) 2009-12-23 2010-12-22 Vanne de réglage à pression régulée comportant un piston à gaz

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US8590755B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP2516295B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2010336426B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2781731C (fr)
WO (1) WO2011079219A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9554982B2 (en) 2012-09-14 2017-01-31 The Procter & Gamble Company Aerosol antiperspirant compositions, products and methods
US9776785B2 (en) 2013-08-19 2017-10-03 Ppg Architectural Finishes, Inc. Ceiling texture materials, systems, and methods
US20160228670A1 (en) * 2013-09-11 2016-08-11 Advanced Inhalation Therapies (Ait) Ltd. System for nitric oxide inhalation
US9579265B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-02-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Aerosol antiperspirant compositions, products and methods
US9662285B2 (en) 2014-03-13 2017-05-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Aerosol antiperspirant compositions, products and methods
USD787326S1 (en) 2014-12-09 2017-05-23 Ppg Architectural Finishes, Inc. Cap with actuator

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CH652468A5 (de) * 1980-08-06 1985-11-15 Werding Winfried J Schubregler zur verwendung im innern eines unter gasdruck stehenden behaelters.
CH645070A5 (en) 1982-01-11 1984-09-14 Werding Winfried J Device for keeping the flow rate of a fluid constant notwithstanding the drop in pressure acting on this fluid inside a container
CH650469A5 (fr) * 1982-11-10 1985-07-31 Werding Winfried J Dispositif pour la regulation de poussee d'un fluide a l'aide de turbulences.
IN174351B (fr) * 1988-03-08 1994-11-12 British Tech Group
BE1006130A3 (nl) * 1992-08-19 1994-05-17 Belgium Spray Accessory Factor Spuitbus.
JP3045638B2 (ja) 1994-07-04 2000-05-29 株式会社日立製作所 超電導装置及びその運転方法
JP3486699B2 (ja) 1994-10-13 2004-01-13 株式会社三谷バルブ エアゾ−ル容器の流量調整構造
JP3486700B2 (ja) * 1994-10-13 2004-01-13 株式会社三谷バルブ エアゾ−ル容器の流量調整構造
FR2774077B1 (fr) * 1998-01-23 2000-04-07 Oreal Valve a regulation de debit de sortie, et recipient equipe d'une telle valve
US6070770A (en) * 1998-12-29 2000-06-06 Precision Valve Japan, Limited Aerosol flow regulator
NL1022455C2 (nl) * 2003-01-21 2004-07-22 Packaging Tech Holding Sa Systeem voor het met behulp van een drijfgas aanbrengen van een werkdruk op een inhoud van een drukverpakking.

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8590755B2 (en) 2013-11-26
AU2010336426B2 (en) 2015-03-19
US20120228336A1 (en) 2012-09-13
EP2516295B1 (fr) 2016-11-02
AU2010336426A1 (en) 2012-06-14
AU2010336426A2 (en) 2012-08-02
CA2781731A1 (fr) 2011-06-30
CA2781731C (fr) 2018-01-09
WO2011079219A1 (fr) 2011-06-30

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